Machine for distributing material on highways in measured form



July 28, 1936. f c, M, MATT-HES 2,048,941

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL ON HIGHWAYS I,N MEASURED FORM Filed Jun s, 1933 s Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28, 1936. c. M. MATTHIES 2,048,941

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL ON HIGHWAYS IN MEASURED FORM Filed June 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1936. I Q s 2,048,941

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL ON HIGHWAYS IN MEASURED FORM Filed June 3, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 28, 1936 PATENT oFrieE MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL ON HIGHWAYS IN BIEAS URED FORM Carl M. Matthies, Willmar, Minn. Application June 3, i933, SerialNo. 674,208

9 Claims.

This invention relates to road building machinery, and while the device of the invention may have other applications, it particularly is designed for measuring certain material or dis- -;tributing the same in measured quantities along a surface such as the surface of a road.

: A great many roads are now surfaced with a mixture of gravel or sand and road oil. It is necessary to get the best results, that the said.

1b).;Ihaterials be mixed in the proper proportions. It is also desirable to mix the material on the road, and this procedure has come to be known as the mix-in-plate method. When the sand or gravel is hauled to the road and dumped from vathe trucks or wagons, it is practically impossible to dump the material so that it will be in a uniform ridge, and it is thus impossible to get the exact number of cubic yards that are desired.

."It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a machine capable of handling the material and distributing the same in measured quantities along the road so that there will be an absoluteuniform quantity in the ridge of material formed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a machine which will deposit any surplus of material to one side where it can be separately handled.

'It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine for handling and uniformly distributing material on a surface, which machine comprises a plate or member having an openingtherethrough, and means movable relatively to said opening to vary the passage of ma- 3 5 terial therethrough.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine comprising members such as plates or mold boards extending forwardly and outwardlytoward the sides of the road having their rear ends at a plate or member having an opening. therethrough, which opening can be regulated and one of said first mentioned plates or mold boards having another similar member extending rearwardly and outwardly from the 45 --end thereof.

"Itis more specifically an object of the lnvenlowing description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:---

Fig. 1v is aview inside elevation of the device, also showing a vehicle to which it is attached;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a View in rear elevation, some parts being broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, a device is shown comprising a frame including a pair of channel members 10 and II extending in parallel relation with their flanges directed toward each other, said channel members having forward portions I00. and Ila extending away from each other at an angle. Said channel members are connected and braced by another channel memher [2 extending therebetween intermediate their ends, and are further secured and braced by a bar l3 secured at its central portion to the channel member 12 by rivets l4, said member l3 extending rearwardly and outwardly and having end portions in engagement with members I0 and II respectively to which it is secured by the rivets IS. The portion Ila of member H is secured to a member IS in the form of a curved plate or mold board extending substantially vertically, having itsconcave side directed forwardly. Said member I6 extends forwardly and outwardly from member I I and has at its outer end a similar plate or mold board I! extending outwardly and rearwardly at an angle thereto as shown-in Fig. 2. Member ll has lugs 18 secured thereto, to which is bolted by the bolt IS a brace member 20 extending rearwardly and inwardly and being similarly bolted to lugs 2| secured to the outer side of channel ll, members 20 and 2| being connected by the bolt 22. Member I! also has another pair of lugs 23 connected thereto and a link 24 is connected to lugs 23 bythe bolt 25, said link extending inwardly and being connected by the bolt 26 to another pair of lugs 21 secured to portion Ha. of member II.

.The portion 10a of member I0 is connected to a member 2 8 in the form of a curved plate or mold board disposed substantially vertically and having its concave surface directed forwardly. Member 28 also extends forwardly and outwardly from member I6. It will be seen that the members lfi and 28 extend outwardly in diverging relation and that member 28 has its forward end a considerable distance ahead of theouter end of member l6. Members l6 and 28 at their inner ends engage the vertical plate 29 which extends at right angles to members l0 and II, and said plate has at its lower central portion a rectangular opening 29a. The members l6, l1 and 28 have secured to the rear thereof adjacent their lower ends bars 30, 3| and 32, respectively secured thereto by rivets 33 and replaceable plates or blades 34, 35 and 36 are bolted respectively to the bars 38, 3! and 32 by the bolts 31. The bars 38, 35 and 36 form the lower or road engaging portions of the plates I6, Hand 28 and can be replaced when sufiiciently worn. Immediately in the rear of plate 29 is a vertically moy; able plate 38, said plate extending beyond the sides of the opening 29a and having its end portions movable in guide slots Mia and 28drespec tively formed in lugs lfib and 28b;,w,hich project. rearwardly respectively frominembers l6 and 28. Plate 38 has secured thereto 'an' angle bar 39 to the bottom of which is secured at: its ends blocks 45 forming nuts, andthroughwhich respectively extend the screws'M; -Sc rews 4lf have' reduced portions at their-lower ends extending through the horizontal flanges of angle plates 42; which angle plates have 'their outerf vertical flanges secured to angle bars 43, whichin turn are secured by screws 44--to the rear faces of lugs [6b and 28b. The screws 4| have nuts 45 thereon below the horizontal flanges-of angle plates 82. Screws 4! have unthreaded upper portions which extend through holes in an'angle plate 96 secured by the screws or rivets 41 to the rear side of plate 29 and saidscr'ews havehand wheels 38 secured to their upper ends. Itwill-beseen that by operation of the screws 48 the nuts: 49, angle bar 39 and plate-38 will be moved ver-- tically'and plate can thus be moved more or less over the opening 29a. The channel bars 19- and il have plates 58 secured thereto at theirouter sides respectively by the rivets 5|, these plates having forwardly extending ofiset portions. Bars 52 having portions extending substantially horizontally above members I6 and 28 also have downwardly curved rear portions 52a, the lower ends of which are disposed between the plates 5 3-and the adjacent channel bar It! or H and are pivotally mounted on bolts 53. Bars 52 are'connected by an angle member 54 extending therebetween and have end flanges secured thereto by the bolts 55. It-will be seen that the forward ends of the bars 52 have a plurality of holes 5219 therethrough'. A plate 56-is secured to the upper surface of'the-horizontal flange of angle bar 46 and extends downwardly and rearwardly to the top of channel bars l0 and H as shown in Fig. 4. The bar 52 shown at'the left in Fig. 2 and shown in Fig. 1 has an angular bar or strap 57 secured thereto by bolts 58 and extending under the lower edge of said bar. Member 5'! is engaged in its bottom surface by a stud 59 threaded at its lower portion in a block or nut 68 secured to the top of'channel bar l0. A'jamb nut 68a is'also threaded on said stud. It will be seen that studs 59 can be rotated and moved to separate or exert pressure between bar 52 and channel barii). The bars 52 also have secured therein nutted studs 6! which extend therethrough and have secured to their inner ends ball members 82, said bolts extending through washers B3.

The device described comprising a frame including members It and I If and attached parts is adapted to be attached to'a vehicle to be drawn along a surface such as a surface of a road. In Fig. 1 the device is shown attached toa vehicle ordinarily forming-a common road scraper. This vehicle comprises a pair of bars 65 secured to a transverse bolster 66 of the vehicle, from which extends upwardly an arch 61 supporting one or more longitudinally extending frame members 68. The frame members 68 extend rearwardly to the rear portion of the vehicle supported upon the wheels 69 and axle 10 and having the cab H. The bolster 66 at the front of the vehicle carries the axle 12 in which are mounted the front wheels 13. A portion of a tongue 14 is shown at the front of the vehicle by which it is drawn. Member 68 has mounted thereon one or more brackets 15 in which is mounted an oscillating shaft 16 having arms ll thereon. Arms 11 are pivotally connected at their outer ends to links 18 which'extend down to balls 62 and have sockets 180. at their lower ends embracing said balls. Shaft 16 is adapted to be oscillated through; a shaft 19 rotated by mechanism (not shown) actuated by the large hand wheels 89 in the cab H. It will be seen that the operator in the cab by turning the wheels may raise the device through arms 52 and 65, these parts being raised when arms 'l'l are swung to raise or lift the links 18. i

A bar or rod 8| is provided, and this bar is bent substantially at a right angle at one end and extends through a hole in the vertical flange of angle bar 54. Said bent portion has a cotter pin or split key 82 extending therethrough, preventing withdrawal of said portion through said flange. Said bar 8! extends upwardly and laterally-and has a flange 8Ia at its upper end by which it is secured to the frame member 68.

- In operation the sand, gravel, broken stone or aggregate which is to be used,will be dumped along the road by wagons or trucks. The present device will then be drawn along the road and the material already deposited on the road will be engaged by the plates or mold boards l6 and 28 andwill be directed inwardly so that it will be contacted-by plate 29i The gate 38 will be adjusted to proper position to give the desired amount of material passing beneath the gate. The material passes beneath the gate through the rectangular opening 'in plate 29 and a uniform ridge ofmaterial is thus deposited by the machine whichis measured with surprising accuracy. The mold 'boards l8 and 28 are disposed at 'just the proper angle to give the desired action, and it-will be noted that mold board I6 is oflesser length and has the auxiliary plate or mold board I! thereon. If there is a surplus of material so that it all will not pass under the gate, this material will pass around the end of the mold board l6 and be deflected to one side of the road by mold board II. There will thus be a second ridge of material deposited quite a distance to, one side of the measured ridge of material, and this second ridge of material can be moved along by a. scraper or handled as desired. It could, of course, be handled by the present machinewith gate 38 in its lowest position so that opening 29a. is entirely closed. The gate 38 is easily moved to the desired position by turning the hand wheels 48. This turns the screws 4| and the nuts or blocks 48 are raised, carrying the angle bar -39 and gate 38 therewith. As stated,

the device pivotsabout the pivot bolts 53 so that If the bottom-of this mold board inclinedaway from -the.road towards its end,'-it could thus be brought into contact with the 'road or adjusted so that its lower edge will be parallel to the road surface. Obviously, stud 59 can be turned in the opposite direction and will then permit the bot.-' tom of the mold board l6 or plates 34 and 35 to drop. By means of the stud 59, therefore, the lower edgesof the mold board can be :adjusted to the road'surface. As already described, the device can be lifted-through the links 18.. I I

Bar 8| is provided to keep the device longitudinally alined with the traction vehicle, or in other words to make it track with said vehicle:-

Members 65 in addition to being movable up-. wardly about their front ends, usually are also movable laterally about said ends. If no steadying means is provided for the. device, it will sway or move from side to side as it is drawn along. To prevent this, bar BI is provided and arranged as above described. The device is thus. constrained to move forwardly in longitudinal alinement with the vehicle which moves it. v

From theabove description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and very efficient machine for distributing and measuring the amount of material desired. In building a bituminous surfaced highway, it is necessary to regulate the quantities of the materials used, in quite accurate proportion. As stated, when the gravel is hauled to the highway and dumped by the trucks, it is impossible to distribute the material so that it will be in a uniform ridge containing the desired amount of material per unit of length. By means of the present machine the desired amount of material can be accurately distributed on the road and the surplus moved to one side. Of course, it is known just how much material is needed for different grades of gravel or sand which are to be mixed with the road oil. While the opening 290. in member 29 can be varied in dimension, in one practical embodiment of the machine the opening is thirty inches wide and in order to leave a ridge of material equivalent to cubic yards per mile, the gate is adjusted to leave an opening two and 7/ 16ths inches in height, or two and 7/16ths inches above the lower edges of the cutting blades 34, 35 and 38. In order to deliver a ridge equivalent to 200 cubic yards per mile, the gate would be adjusted to leave an opening of twice the given figure, or four and 'V ths inches above the bottom of the cutting blades. The angle of the mold boards and the lengths thereof have been determined by considerable practice and experiment and have been made as shown to give the best results. The device as stated functions with great accuracy. The same has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details; arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine adapted to be moved along a surface for collecting and distributing in measured quantities material deposited on said surface, having in combination, a frame, a plate extending transversely thereof and transversely to the line of movement of said machine, said plate having anopening at its. lower portion; a second ,plate: in closeproximityto saidfirst mentioned plate and movable vertically over said opening, means for moving saidsecondsplate; curved plates having substantially horizontal lower edges engaging said surface and forming mold. boards extending forwardly and outwardly respectively. from each end of said first mentioned plate, and members disposed respectively at eachside ofsaid frame and pivoted theretoabout a horizontal axis extending forwardlybver: said moldboards and constructedand arranged to be attached to a traction means for moving said machine.

. 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, and means engaging one of said latter members and said frame to move the same apart or together to tip said mold boards to bring the same into parallel relation-to the supporting surface.

; 3. The structure set forth in claim 1, a member securedto. eachof said last mentioned members and upwardly extending members pivotally secured to thesameconstructed and arranged to be. connected to a lifting means for lifting said machine. p v 1 4. A machine adapted to be moved along a surface for collecting and distributing in measured quantities material deposited on said surface, a frame including parallel members rigidly secured together, a plate carried between said members and having an opening at its lower central portion, a second plate vertically movable close to said plate and adapted to be moved over said opening, to vary the size thereof, means on said frame engaging said second plate to move the same vertically and hold it in various positions, mold boards extending from the ends of said first mentioned plate forwardly and outwardly respectively, having lower edges engaging said surface and adapted to direct material to said plate, a traction bar pivotally secured to each of said first mentioned parallel members in the rear of said first mentioned plate, said bars being pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis and extending upwardly and forwardly over said mold boards, and having means by which they may be connected to a traction device.

5. A machine adapted to be moved along a surface for collecting and distributing in measured quantities material deposited on said surface,

having in combination, a plate extending transversely to the movement of said machine having an opening in its lower central portion, means for varying the size of said opening, mold boards extending forwardly and outwardly respectively from the ends of said plate having lower edges engaging said surface and directing material to said plate, and means connected to the outer end of one of said mold boards for directing surplus material to one side of said device.

6. A machine adapted to be moved along a highway for collecting and distributing in measured form material deposited on said highway having in combination, a member having a lower substantially horizontal edge engaging said highway and extending forwardly and outwardly at an angle to the direction of movement of said machine constructed and arranged to move material rearwardly and inwardly toward the center of said highway, a second member having a lower substantially horizontal edge extending forwardly and outwardly toward the opposite side of said machine for moving material rearwardly and inwardly, said members having their rear ends in alinement transversely of said machine, a third member extending between said ends substantially atright angles to the direction of movement of said machine, said latter member having an opening therethrough at its lower portion and movable means for varying the size of said opening. a y l 7. A machine adapted to be moved along a highway for collecting and distributing inmeasured quantity material deposited on said highway having in combination, a member substantially engaging said highway and extending forwardly and outwardly at an angle to the direction of movement of said machine constructed and arranged to engage and move said material toward the center of said highway, a second member substantially engaging said highway extending forwardly and outwardly toward the opposite side of said machine for moving said material inwardly and being of less length than said first mentioned member, said members thus converging rearwardly, a third member extending between said members attheir rear'portions and transversely of the direction of movement of said machine, said third member having an opening.

therethrough at its lower portion extending to its lower side and a vertically movable member movable over said opening from the top thereof for varying the size thereof.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, said second member having another member substantially engaging said surface and extending outwardly. andrearwardly fromits forward end. i V

,9. A machine adapted to be moved along a highway for collecting and distributing in measured quantity material deposited on said highway having in combination, a substantially vertical plate extending substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said machine and having an opening therethrough extending to its lower side, said opening being of small width compared to the width of said machine, a member movable over said opening to decrease the sizev thereof and plates forming mold boards extending forwardly and outwardly respectively from each end of said first mentioned member having lower edges engaging said highway and adapted to engage said material and direct the same to said member and opening. I

CARL M. MATTHIES. 

